Woman&#39;s footwear



1940- E. w. ELLSWORTH 2,215,433

WOMAN'S FOOTWEAR Filed Jan. 16, 1939 NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 1,1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.-

Thls invention relates to water-proof foot-' wear.

An important object of my invention is to provide afoot covering that isextremely serviceable and of pleasing appearance.

Another object of my invention is to provide a foot covering that willprotect the shoe and stocking to a point well above the ankle.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a foot covering that issufliciently light in weight to permit the same to be worn during thespring and summer months.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a foot covering thatis constructed of a diaphanous material to permit the graceful outlineand decorative color of the shoe or slipper to be advantageouslydisplayed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a foot covering that isadapted to be easily and expeditiously applied to and removed from thefoot.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during thecourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved foot covering as appliedoutside of the shoe and stocking and in the open or unbuckled position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, illustrating the covering in aclosed or buckled position, and

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure2.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown apreferred embodiment of or foot-fitting portion adapted to be receivedover the shoe or slipper 6 with the upper portion 1 thereof ofsufficient height to cover the stocking 8 well above the ankle. The sole9 of the vamp 5 is made of light weight rubber, or the like, and therear portion In thereof is curved upwardly to closely follow the contourof the shank portion of the slipper 6. The upp portion of the vamp 5 ismade of any suitable diaphanous material, such as oil silk, formed intwo sections and joined centrally by a seam II which extends from thetoe I2 to the top edge of the upper portion I. The rearwardly extendingportion I3 of the vamp 5 extends in adjacent relation to the sole of theshoe and is my invention, the numeral 5 designates the vamp ofsuflicient) length so that' opposite portions will meet in overlappingrelation at the rear of the slipper.

. The portions I3 are slit inwardly to substantially the seam II, asillustrated at It in Figure 1, and straps I5 and I6 are sewn, orotherwise secured therein. The straps I5 and I6 are formed with astraight upper edge I! and with the lower portions I8 convergentoutwardly therefrom toward its middle so that the front of the upperportion 1 will be arcuated to properly conform with the shape of thefoot at the instep. The strap IB is of substantially the same length asthe strap I5 and is provided with a vertical slit I9 to receive'thestrap I5 'when the portions I3 are wrapped about the back of the foot,as illustrated in Figure 2. The ends of the straps I5 and I6 areprovided with flexible ends 20 of rubber, or the like, having hook andeyelet fasteners 2I and 22 secured theeron at their extremities so thatwhen the straps I5 and I6 are wrapped about the ankle, with the strap I5received within the slot I9, the hook and eyelet 2| and 22 will meet atthe forward part of the foot adjacent the instep in a manner whereby theyieldable ends 20 may be willciently flexed to bring about theengagement of the fasteners, and to pull the covering neatly about theankle. The unique construction of the straps will permit the top edge toconform to the 30 comparatively restricted portion of the ankle and thedivergent lower portion to properly accommodate the heel and follow thecontour of the shoe and ankle. The upper portion 1 terminates at eitherside thereof in aliform extensions 23 of suificient length to meet inoverlapping engagement at the rear of the leg and comprising upwardcontinuations of the lower portions I3. A strap 24 having a straightupper edge 25 and outwardly convergent lower edge 26 is fastened to theportion 1 substantially equidistant between the top thereof and thelower straps I5 and I6, and with the part of greatest width 21 adaptedto be positioned at the back of the leg when the flaps 23 are inoverlapping or folded engagement. The ends of the strap 24 are similarlyprovided with yieldable extensions 28 which are provided with hook andeye fasteners 29 and 30 adapted to substantially meet at the front ofthe leg and to be brought into engagement by flexing the yieldableportions 28. As illustrated in Figure 2, the aliform formation of thetop portion 1 will permit the same to closely follow the contour of thecalf of the leg and to present a very neat and pleasing appearance. Theedges of the straps I, ii and 24, and the exposed edges of the coveringI, are provided with a binding 8! to reinforce and support the same.

The transparent light weight upper portion will permit the foot coveringto be worn during the warm spring and summer months, and will give ampleprotection to the foot and stocking during rainy weather to prevent mudand water from being spattered thereon. The diaphaneity of the coveringwill also give the illusion of smallness to the wearer's foot andeliminate the sensation of bulk commonly associated with the a heavierforms of covering. It will also be noted that the lower portion I! ofthe covering fits snugly about the heel giving ample protection to thispart of the foot. The fastening fea-' tures are simple and efficient,and the covering as a whole is easily applied to the foot, it beingmerely necessary to slip the toe of the foot into the vamp 5 and foldthe upper portion I about the leg with the rear edges thereof inoverlapping engagement so that the lower strap l5 may be received withinthe slot. l9 and wrapped about the ankle to permit the hook attachedthereto to engage with the eyelet secured to the end of the strap l6.The upper strap 24 is then similarly wrapped about the leg above theankle, and the hook and eyelet 29 and 30 secured to respective endsthereof brought into engagement at the front of the leg. The flexiblenature of the ends will cause the covering to closely conform with theshape of the leg and to permit the wearer to enjoy a free walkingmovement.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown anddescribed, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the size and shape of the parts may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I- claim:

1. A foot covering comprising a sole extending from the toe to the heelof the shoe to be covered;' an upper attached to the sole, said upperhaving portions extending rearwardly thereof a suillcient length to meetin overlapping engagement at the ward the said shoe, the lower edge ofsaid portions closely following the union of the upper with the sole ofthe shoe, the top portion of the said upper extending to a point abovethe ankle of the wearer and terminating at either side thereof inallformconfiguration, said upper having transverse slits extendinginwardly from either side thereof at approximately the ankle of thewearer and opening through the rearward edge thereof above 5 the saidlower edge; straps fitted into the said slits and formed with a straightupper edge and with a v-shaped lowergportion, said straps being adaptedto be wrapped around the ankle of the wearer and being adapted to meetat substan- 10 tialiy the front of the ankle; elastic members secured tothe outer ends of the said straps to cause the upper to fit closely andcorrespond substantially to the contour of the ankle; and fastenersattached to the said elastic members.

2. A foot covering comprising a sole extending from the toe to the heelof the shoe to be covered; an upper attached to the sole, said upperhaving portions extending rearwardly thereof and being of suihcientlength to meet in 20 overlapping engagement at the rear of ,thesaid shoethe lower edge of which closely follows the union of the upper with thesole of the shoe, the top portion of the said upper extending to a pointabove the ankle of the wearer and terminating at either side thereof inaliform configuration, said upper having transverse slits extendinginwardly from either side thereof at approxi mately the ankle of thewearer and opening through the rearward edgev thereof above the'30 saidlower edge; straps fitted into the said slits and formed with straightupper edges and with v-shaped lower portions having. the apexes thereofco-incidental with the rear of the said side pieces, said straps beingadapted to be wrapped around the ankle of the wearer and being adaptedto meet at substantially the front of the ankle; elastic members securedto the outer ends of the said straps to cause the upper to fit closelyand correspond substantially to the contour of the ankle; fastenersattached to the 1 said elastic members; a strap secured to one side ofthe upper having a straight upper edge and a V-shaped lower portion, theapex of which is co-incidental with the rear edge of the said upper,said strap being adapted to be wrapped around the leg of the wearer andto cause the upper to fit closely and correspond substantially to theccntour'of the leg; elastic members attached to the ends of the saidstrap; and so fasteners attached to the said elastic pieces.

ESTHER w. EIISWORTH.

